Appakatus for makim and dispensing minebal waters



(No Model.) 1 A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PIE. M-ALMSTROM.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND DISPENSING MINERAL WATERS. No. 602,909. Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

(No Model.) A 2 SheetsSheet 2.

' P. E. MALMSTROM.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND DISPENSING MINERAL WATERS; No. 602,909. Patented Apr. 26,1898.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT rrrcn.

PETER'E. MALMSTROM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND DISPENS ING MINERAL WATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,909, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed February 26, 1897. Serial No. 625,127. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER E. MALMSTROM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making and Dispensing Mineral lVaters and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, primarily, to improvements in apparatus for making and dispensiug artificial mineral waters. The present practice is to make a concentrated solution of the solid ingredients of the particular water to be made, the proportions of the ingredients being according to some accepted formula, and to then place the solution in a chamber or other desired vessel, thoroughly mix it with water of the desired volume and connect it with a carbonating apparatus and charge the mass with carbonic-acid gas While in the vessel. The vessels thus provided with the mineral water are supplied to the consumer, the manufacturer having to deliver a separate vessel for each kind of water supplied and to remove the empty vessels and supply new ones, thus involving the employment of a great number of vessels.

The object of my invention is to avoid the above cumbersome method of manufacture and dispensing and to enable the dispenser to manufacture the mineral water at the place of its use.

According to my invention I locate my apparatus in its preferred form at the place of use and make a solution of the mineral wateras Vichy, seltzer, or the like-of a suiiicient quantity or volume and place such volume in a separate receptacle. Each or any one of the said receptacles are placed in connection with a gas-holder, containing, say, carbonated water, with a gas-space above the carbonated water containing freed carbonicacid gas. The gas-pressure in the gas-holder is then utilized for the purpose of simultaneously siphoning or forcing the carbonated water and mineral-water solution out of the respective holder and receptacle into a commin glin gchamber, where the carbonated Water and solution are thoroughly commingled, after which the completed mineral water, carbonated or aerated, can be stored for further use or drawn on: from the fountain, as will be hereinafter described.

It is well known that natural waters of the so-called mineral class contain a certain amount of commingled gas, each species of water containing its own known quantity of gas; and one of the objects of my invention is to provide means for incorporating the proper volume of gas into a stated volume of mineralwater solution through the agency of the previously-carbonated water. For this purpose I have provided an adjunct to the device for siphoning the mineral-water solution out of its receptacle, consisting in either a pipe or a valve which permits the passage therethrou gh and into the commingling-chamber of a volume of solution properly proportioned to the volume of carbonated watercommin glin g with it in the commingling-chamber.

My invention contemplates the means hereinafter described for carrying out my invention, and also for dispensing the carbonated mineral Water, the former embracing a holder for the carbonated water provided with a siphoning-pipe, acommingling-chamber, a separate receptacle for the solution, connections between the gas space of the holder and the commingling-chamber and solution receptacle, and a contracted passage between the receptacle and commingling-chamber,with suitable valves and check-valves for controlling the passage of the gas and fluids.

The dispensing apparatus embraces a cooling-chamber in direct connection with the dispensing-faucet of the fountain and commingling-chamber, so that the completed mineral Water will be cooled while on its passage from the said chamber to said faucet.

My invention also embraces certain arrange ments and devices hereinafter described, and finally. pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents diagrammatically an apparatus for carrying out the various features of improvement described herein, embracing a series of receptacles for carbonating and dispensing various mineral solutions and a dispensing-fountain; Fig. 2, an elevation showing a gas-holder and solutionreceptacle, both enlarged and in section, a cooling-box, commingling-chamber, and pipes and valves for carrying out the various features of improvement described herein; and Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional elevation of the com mingling-chamber and cooperating check valves, connections, 85C.

Referring specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, 1 indicates a gas-holder, preferably disposed u pright and of any desired construction, provided with an upright siphoning-pipe 2, passing out its top, and a plug 3 for filling the holder, the pipe 2 extending down near the bottom of the holder, the exposed end at being provided with a valve 5. The holder is preferably of a size to contain a sufficient supply or volume of gas and carbonated water to al low of a long period of use, comparatively, and the pipe 2 is preferably made of sufficient diameter to allow of the free and unrestricted passage of the desired volume of carbonated water therethrough.

At 6 is the receptacle 1" or containing the prepared solution hereinafter described, preferably cylindrical in form, disposed horizontally, its flanged head 7 affording means for supporting it in that position, and provided with a supply-coupling 8 and a relief valve or cook 9.

At 10 is a commingling-chamber of any desired form and capacity, provided with branches 11 12 13, the branches 11 and 12 having couplings 14 15, in which are seated checkvalves 16 17, of desired construction, and threaded extensions, the branch 13 being provided with a coupling 20.

At 21 is a cooling-box, which may also be the usual dispensing-fountain, of any desired form or construction, having in its interiora pipe-coil 22, over or about which ice can be laid to keep the coil and its contents at a low temperature, and at 23 is a pipe leading from the coil to the faucet 2% on the exterior of the box 21.

Leading from the top of the holder 1 is apipe 25, in which is interposed a valve 26, near the holder. The pipe 25 leads into the top of the receptacle 6, a coupling 27 being provided to allow of the ready attachment of the pipe to the receptacle, and the same means can be provided for connecting the pipe 25 with the holder 1.

From near the bottom of the receptacle 6 and passing out of the upper wall thereof is a pipe 28, which pipe is continued to the branch 12, where it is secured to the coupling 14, a coupling 29 being interposed in the pipe near the receptacle 6 to allow of readily attaching and detaching the pipe. A'pipe 30 extends from the valve 5 in the pipe 2 to the branch 11 of the commingling-chamber 10, Where it is secured to the coupling 15, a valve 31 being interposed in the pipe 30 between the pipe 2 and chamber 10. In this way the gas-space 32 of the holder 1, the gasspace 33 of the receptacle 6, and the bottom of the receptacle 6, the chamber 10, and the bottom of the holder 1 and the chamber 10 are all put in direct communication with each other, a pipe 3a leading from the coil 22 to the branch 13 of the chamber 10, and there secured by the union 35, bringing the chamber 10 in direct communication with the cooling-chamber and dispensing-faucet.

The pipe 28 is intentionally made very much smaller in diameter than the pipe 25 to offer a predetermined resistance to the flow of liquid therethrough relationed to the size of the passage in the pipe 35, as hereinafter described, for which reduction in size of the pipe 28 a reducing-valve can be substituted.

The apparatus just described is adapted for carrying out my invention in connection with one kind of solution.

In the practical application of my invention a number of receptacles for holding the different kinds of solutions are employed in connection with a single gas-holder, (see Fig. 1,) each receptacle having a separate con1- mingling-chamber 10 and individual pipes 25, 28, and 34, while the pipe 2 can be placed in direct connection with the individual chambers 10 by means of astand 36 of couplings, each having the valve 5, from which couplings leads the pipes 30, the. holder 1 being preferably provided with a series of tapped and plugged bosses to allow of the attachment of an indefinite number of pipes 25 thereto, the pipes 34 leading to the faucets 24 in the manner heretofore described.

Having described the apparatus for carrying out my invention, I will now describe the process of aerating the mineral-Water solution, it being borne in mind that the process is the same whether carried out in connec tion with one kind, as indicated in Fig. 2, or a number of kinds of solutions, as indicated in Fig. 1, with the exception that in the apparatus shown in said latter figure none of the different solutions would at any time come in contact with, each other or pass through the same pipes. Neither is it intended to use more than one kind of solution in any one of the circuits thus formed.

The desired volume of liquid solution being made of the different ingredients of the particular kind or species of mineral water or salt, as it is termed-say a concentrated solution made of about four ounces of the saltthe ingredients being put up in the proper proportions according to the accepted formula in a dry state, the solution is then poured into the receptacle (3 through the opening therein left by the removal of the plug 8, as indicated at 37, the valve 26 having been previously closed and the vent-cock 9 opened to free the space 33 of any gas which may be present, and when the proper quantity is placed in the receptacle the plug 8 is inserted and the cock 9 closed, a top space being left in the receptacle above the solution.

The design of myinvention being toutilize the gas in the holder 1 to propel the solution 37 to the commingling-chamber and at the same time to siphon the carbonated water 38 in the holder 1 to the chamber, it is manifest ICO IIO

that to allow of the discharging of one or p more of the receptacles and the dispensing of its or their contents by one charge of gas and water in the holder 1 the latter should be so proportioned to the receptacle 6 that the containing capacity of the holder should allow of the repeated discharging and refillin g of the receptacles without requiring a recharging of the holder 1 or its substitution by a freshly-charged one too often, and this design can he carried out as indicated in the drawings.

The holder 1, which may have the capacity, say, of ten gallons for ordinary requirements, is charged with the carbonated water 88 under a pressure, say, of one hundred and eighty pounds, (a gage being used to indicate the pressure in the holder,) a certain portion of the carbonic-acid gas freeing itself into the space 32 and forcing a top pressure on the water. The valves 5 and 26 (the valve 31 being open and used only for emergency) are then opened, and a volume of the free gas from the space 32 and of the desired pressure will pass through the pipe 25 to the space 33, above the solution 37 in the receptacle 6, forc ing the latter through the pipe 28, past the check-valve 16 in the coupling 14, and into the commingling-chamber 10, the gas then not appreciably coinmingling with the solution 37, and at the same timethe gas-pressure in the holder 1 will siphon a volume of the carbonated water 38 through the pipes 2 and 30 and past the check-valve 17 in the coupling 15 into the chamber 10, where the soluti on and carbonated water will thoroughly intermiX and the latters gas commingle with the solution and aerate it, the check-valves preventing the returning of the carbonated water or solution and confining each to its respective passages. After the commingling has taken place the completed mineral water passes through the pipe 34, coil 22, and pipe 23 to the faucet 24:, to be drawn as desired, and each draft that is made through the fancet causes a repetition of the above process to take place.

According to the proportions heretofore given and following an. approved formula about four ounces of salt-Vichy, for example-should be sufficient to produce ten gallons of Vichy-water, so that if the holder 1 contains ten gallons of carbonated water it will be sufficient to treat one charge of solution in the receptacle 6, containing about four ounces of the salt; but this can be changed or.

altered in accordance with the particular formula followed.

If the passage through the pipe 28 were proportionately the same as that through the pipe 25 or the formers area not otherwise controlled, the solution 37 would be forced out of the receptacle 6 too quickly and the proper proportion of solution to carbonated water not maintained, and it is for the purpose of avoiding the former and providing for the latter that I have so proportioned the area of the pipe 28, its restricted passage proportioning the volume of solution to the desired volume of carbonated water on the occurrence of each draft from the faucet and permitting the manufacture and dispensing of the mineral water with its proportioned volumes of solution and carbonated water to be had automatically, it being only necessary for the dispenser to recharge the receptacles 6 and putin a freshly-charged holder 1 (or recharge it from a-carbonator, if he has one) to repeatedly and economically practice my invention.

Although I have shown and described a certain apparatus for practicing my invention, it is manifest that the same can be modified in many particulars, and also that a graduating-valve can be substituted for the pipe 28 or such a valve used in connection with that pipe or another of different proportionate area, all without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of the following instrumentalities, a holder containing carbonated water and having a top gas-pressure, a receptacle containing a mineral-salt solution, a commingling-chamber in which the carbonated water and mineral-salt solution is combined, a pipe leading from the carbonated-water holder to the said chamber, a pipe leading from the gas area to the said receptacle, a pipe leading from the said receptacle to said chamber, and check-valves located at each of the entrances to said chamber and interposed in the line of the flow of said fluids, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in an apparatus of the' kind described, of the a holder, the sol utionreceptacle, the commingling-chamber, a coolin g-box, a dispensing-faucet, and in dependent pipes with controlling-valves leading from the holder to said receptacle and to said chamber, and from the chamber to said receptacle, and from said chamber to said faucet through the cooling-box, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in an apparatus of the kind described, of the holder, the solution-V receptacle, the commingling-chamber, a pipe leading from the holder to said receptacle, another pipe leading from said holder and to said chamber, a check-valve in this pipe, another pipe leading from said receptacle to said chamber, and a check-valve in the latter pipe, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in an apparatus of the kind described, of the holder, the solutionreceptacle, the commingling-chamber, apipe leading from the holder to said receptacle and a valve in this pipe, another pipe leading from said holder to said chambera valve and check in this pipe, a further pipe leading from said receptacle to said chamber, and a check-valve in the latter pipe, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination With the holder, of a commingling-chamber,a pipe leading from said holder to the chamberhaving an interposed check,-

valve, a receptacle, a pipe leading from the holder to the receptacle, a passage of restricted area extending between the chamber and said receptacle, and a check-valve interposed in said passage, substantially as described;

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the holder,of a commingling-cha1nber,a pipe leading from said holder 7 to the chamber having an interposed checkvalve, a receptacle, a pipe of restricted internal'area with an interposed check-valve leading, from said receptacleto said chamber, and a'pipe leading from said holder to said receptacle having an 7 internal area larger than the last-mentioned pipe, substantially. V as described.

'8. Thecombination with the holder 1, hav

in g the upright siphon-pipe 2, the chamber 10, a pipe with an interposed valve and checkvalve leading from the pipe 2 to the chamber 10, a receptacle 6, a pipe 25 having a valve 26 between the holder and receptacle, and the restricted siphon-pipe 28 having an interposed check-valve extending to the chamber 10 and receptacle 6, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the upright holder 1, the upright siphon-pipe 2 extending to the bottom and through the top of the holder, the commingling-chamber 10, a pipe 30 extending between said chamber and pipe 2 and having an interposed valve 5 and a checkvalve, a horizontally-disposed receptacle 6, a pipe 25 leading from the top of the holder 1 to the top of the receptacle and having a valve 26, and a smaller pipe 28 having an interposed check-valve leading from the bottom of the receptacle 6 to the chamber 10,'snbstantially as described.

' 10. The combination with the holder 1, re-

ceptacle 6, and chamber 10, and the regulated passages between them, of the cooling-box, a pipe-coil therein, a dispensing-faucet, and pipes 23, 34 leading from the coil to the chamber 10 and faucet respectively, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the gasholder 1, the stand-pipe 36, a series of separate T9081), tacles as 6, a pipe with an interposed controlling-valve leading from each of the'receptacles to the gas-space in the holder, the pipe 2 in the holder connecting the stand-pipe 36,

a separate commingling-chamber for each tacles to the gas-space in the holder, the pipe I 2 in the holder, a separate commingling-ehamher for each receptacle, a pipe leading from each of the receptacles to its respective commingling-chamber, a series of pipes leading from the stand-pipe 36 to each of the-commingling-chambers, valves interposed in the pipes leading to the said commingling-chambers, a cooling-box and coils therein, a series of independent pipes 34 each leading from each of the commingling-chambers to a separate coil in the cooling-chamber, a series of dispensing-faucets and separate pipes leading from each of the cooling-coils to said faucets, each of the faucets being in connection with each of the independent commingling-chambers, substantially as described.

' Signed in the city, county, and State of New York this 20th day of February, 1897.

PETER E. MALMSTROM.- WVitnesses:

JOSEPH LEVY, WM. J ACOBSEN. 

